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Rationale and Objectives We aimed to investigate the relationship between shear wave speed (SWS) of the lesion on preoperative breast ultrasonography (US) and disease-free survival of patients with primary operable invasive breast cancer. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. The requirement for informed consent was waived. A total of 195 consecutive newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer patients (age 33–83 years; mean 54.0 years) with preoperative breast US with SWS measurement of the lesion were identified. They underwent surgery between May 2012 and May 2013. SWS was measured at the center and three marginal zones in the main tumors, and the maximum value was used for analyses. For 35 patients who underwent primary systemic therapy (PST), the maximum SWS before PST was used. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to identify the relationship between clinical-pathologic factors and disease-free survival. Results Fourteen recurrences occurred at 6–47 months (mean 22.3 months) after surgery. On multivariate analysis, a positive history of PST (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.66, 14.70; P  = .004), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 3.67; 95% CI: 1.11, 12.1; P  = .033), and higher maximum SWS (HR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.23; P  = .020) were associated with poorer disease-free survival. Conclusion Higher maximum SWS on preoperative US, in addition to a positive history of PST and adjuvant chemotherapy, was significantly associated with poorer disease-free survival of patients with invasive breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horsegram [ Macrotyloma uniflorum Lam (Verdc.)] is an undervalued and under studied legume though is a good source of proteins, carbohydrates and energy. Drought is an abiotic stress that effects plant development and ecosystem sustainability. Drought is expected to become more common in the future as a result of climate change. Horsegram is known to withstand drought, salt and heavy metal stress. In the past few decades application of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to explore complex traits has risen in popularity. Considering the above mentioned factors drought tolerance ability of horsegram germplasm was investigated in 96 diverse horsegram lines with GWAS by exploring 20241 SNPs. Highest number of SNPs were found to be located in intergenic regions (43.8%) followed by intronic SNPs (21.6%). In this investigation three drought tolerant representing parameters were selected for QTL identification. In the present study, we identified different SNPs associated with QTLs governing these traits, which involved in drought stress response of horsegram plant. Seven QTLs were found to be associated with relative water content in horsegram whereas for root volume and root length 4 and 8 QTLs were found respectively. By using horsegram database of Kazusa DNA research institute Japan, we identify the genes present on these marker sites which were found to be involved in many biochemical pathways related to plant abiotic stresses. Many of these genes were previously characterized and few uncharacterized genes were also found controlling these traits. These findings will help in identifying new mechanisms responsible for plant drought stress tolerance in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome sequencing of two model legumes and soybean (Glycine max) is near completion. In addition, genomic information, such as ESTs, genomic sequences, and DNA markers has been intensively collected from a variety of crop legumes using new genomic technologies. The accumulating information provides an opportunity to perform comparative analyses to decipher the evolutionary process of genomic structures and functions in leguminous plants. Furthermore, it can serve as a basis to exchange knowledge among the model and crop legumes, which, when combined with the new experimental techniques developed in the model legumes, will not only facilitate an understanding of the basic genetic systems in crop legumes, but also accelerate the breeding process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the shear wave velocity of normal breast tissue and breast lesion using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technology. Materials and methods: This retrospective study was conducted with the approval of the institutional review board. Shear wave velocity was measured using a linear array transducer with a bandwidth of 4–9MHz and Virtual Touch tissue quantification (Siemens Medical Solutions, Mountain View, CA, USA) in 50 patients. First, the values of the shear wave velocity were determined in the normal tissues. Then, the changes in the shear wave velocity while applying external compression on the breast were determined. For the differential diagnosis of breast lesions, the shear wave velocities of 30 mass lesions (13 benign and 17 malignant lesions) classified as BI-RADS category 4 were measured. Results: The mean shear wave velocities in the subcutaneous fat and the mammary gland parenchyma were 2.66m/s and 3.03m/s, respectively (p =0.0006). The mean shear wave velocity measured while applying external compression was 3.33m/s for subcutaneous fat (p <0.0001), and 3.84m/s for the mammary gland parenchyma (p <0.0001). In 4 of malignant cases, the shear wave velocity was not indicated (displayed as X.XX; unmeasurable state). The mean shear wave velocity of the 13 malignant lesions (4.49m/s) was higher than that of benign lesions (2.68m/s) (p <0.01). Conclusions: ARFI tissue quantification is thought to be a potentially promising ultrasound technique for the diagnosis of breast lesions, but further investigation is required to identify the most appropriate method of measurement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study compared the diagnostic performance of two shear wave speed measurement techniques in 81 patients with 83 solid breast lesions. Virtual Touch Quantification, which provides single-point shear wave speed measurement capability (SP-SWS), was compared with Virtual Touch IQ, a new 2-D shear wave imaging technique with multi-point shear wave speed measurement capability (2D-SWS). With SP-SWS, shear wave velocity was measured within the lesion (“internal” value) and the marginal areas (“marginal” value). With 2D-SWS, the highest velocity was measured. The marginal values obtained with the SP-SWS and 2D-SWS methods were significantly higher for malignant lesions and benign lesions, respectively (p < 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 86% (36/42), 90% (37/41) and 88% (73/83), respectively, for SP-SWS, and 88% (37/42), 93% (38/41) and 90% (75/83), respectively, for 2D-SWS. It is concluded that 2D-SWS is a useful diagnostic tool for differentiating malignant from benign solid breast masses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]